Adam Cooper

A former prison guard must now stay on the other side of a cell door after being jailed for smuggling contraband into Victoria’s largest maximum security jail.

Craig Anthony Brown, 32, was on Friday sentenced to spend 15 months, with a minimum of nine months, in jail for smuggling mobile phones, takeaway food and other items into Port Phillip Prison, between July and October last year.

On eight occasions Brown concealed and brought in prohibited items for prisoners, and was twice paid $500 to smuggle food, although later promises of $10,000, a holiday and house never eventuated.

In all he took in five mobile phones, six or seven SIM cards, takeaway and other food, an Allen key and a pair of tweezers.

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The Allen key was believed to be used to remove light fittings inside jail and one of the phones was found concealed with drugs, although there is no suggestion Brown smuggled drugs.

A court order prevents the naming of five prisoners who negotiated with the guard.

Brown pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct by a public official and County Court judge Richard Smith described the offending as a serious breach of trust with the potential to affect jail discipline, as prisoners could communicate with each other and to others outside.

Judge Smith said general deterrence was the most important matter in sentencing.

‘‘A strong message should be sent to persons occupying public office that such offences will be strongly dealt with by the courts,’’ he said.

Brown’s plea hearing was told he ran the goods to help pay for medical treatment for his partner, who had just been diagnosed with a serious illness.

But Judge Smith said he placed little weight on that submission and was instead ‘‘satisfied that your conduct was, at least in the main part, motivated by greed’’.

He noted that a psychological report found Brown was easily overwhelmed in social and emotional settings and acknowledged the former guard had been ‘‘quite vulnerable to the guile of seasoned prisoners who picked their mark’’.

The court heard while it was the prisoners who initially approached Brown, this had no bearing on his culpability as he knew it was illegal to carry the items in.

The plea hearing was told Brown smuggled the items inside his shoes.

Judge Smith acknowledged Brown’s mental-health problems and former occupation would weigh heavily on him while in prison, but said a jail term was the only appropriate penalty.